Daniel hadn't felt more out of place since the last time he went to church. Nor had been more nervous.
The sensation felt odd to him. For so long he had been numb to his emotions. El Gris does that to you. 90 hour weeks does that to you. Castigating workers who fall behind quota does that to you. Daniel had been overseeing labor in El Gris for a long time. Too long. A life of darkness, grit, and cruelty had become the norm. He even had a name there. Workers called him "Il Lupo", the wolf.
Which is why it felt odd to Daniel Vecellio to be nervously picking at the dirt under his fingernails, softly kicking gravel around in a ratty black suit, standing at the front door of the immaculate The Signorino Estate, home of one the most powerful families in Madrenice. Birds chirped in the shade trees behind him, it had been awhile since he heard birds.
It had also been ages since he'd been off the dreadful island and into the city. These "business trips" were not of his choosing. They were status reports to the boss. A chance for the big man in charge to hear good news from his underlings. Felipe Signorino controlled most of the industry in El Gris, and was famously autocratic is the way he ran his business.
But Daniel didn't have good news. The foundry had been under production for 4 weeks. Mistakes were being made, orders being missed. His workers were dropping like flies, dead.
Daniel looked up the shimmering white marble pillars of the estate in exasperation, squinting as the midday sun reflected off them. His gaze fell down to the giant mahogany door he had knocked on moments ago, his impatience grew.
Daniel heard the metallic clanking before he heard the heavy footsteps emanate from behind the door. Daniel could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. The giant wooden slab swang open and revealed a towering sculpture of polished brass. A clockwork Automata.
In a deep echoing voice, it spoke. "Master Vecellio, welcome to the Signorino Estate. My name is Alesso. Please come in."
Daniel stepped inside, feet landing on thick red carpet. Daniel couldn't stop himself from surveying the luxury he had just entered. Huge tapestries hung off granite walls that moved gently in the breeze of the open windows. Lavish furniture arranged itself in elegant composition.
"I must apologize, Master Vecellio, Master Signorino will be running late to his arrangement with you," Alesso spoke calmly as Daniel's eyes darted around the room. Alesso was a gorgeous display of early Automata innovation, hundreds of brass plates clicked together softly as he closed the huge door behind Daniel. A brown leather vest hung from his stout metal chest.
Daniel's jerked eyes up to Alesso." Running late?" he said, voice shaking ever so slightly.
Alesso nodded and smiled. "Yes sir, paying a visit to the crane operators down at the seaport, evidently they haven't been pulling their weight lately."
Daniel let out a nervous laugh.
Alesso gestured an intricate clockwork hand towards a flight of white marble stairs down the hall. "You may wait for him in his study."
Daniel followed the Automata up the steps, he couldn't decide who he was more worried about, Signorino or this hulking clockwork individual.
Metallic squeals from Alesso mechanics echoed off cold stone walls.
Alesso looked back, "You'll have to excuse me, sir, I seem to be showing my age."
Alesso guided Daniel into the study, books lined the walls, catching rays of light from the long curtains behind a great oak desk. Daniel carefully lowered himself into one of the armchairs in front of the desk.
"Tea while you wait, Master Vecellio?" Alesso stood by the door.
"Oh. Sure." Daniel said offhandedly. The nerves were coming back.
Alesso returned shortly with an intricate baroque teapot. As he towered over the armchair, Daniel noticed the detailed engravings that covered Alesso's shimmering brass plating.
"Appreciate it. This ain't the magic shit right?" Daniel smirked at his own joke, still sipping the tea cautiously.
"If you're referring to the Herbal Tea of the Fae, no sir. Just rosebuds."
"Ah, well good. See a lot of that kind back in the factory trying to sneak in that magic tea to stay sharp between the ears. Like it'll save them."
Alesso smiled calmly. "It has to be known to do many great things, sir."
"Doesn't seem to help them work themselves to death. Dropping like flies on the factory floor lately. Boss won't stop upping quotas." Daniel said to no-one in particular. He was feeling suddenly happier, although he wasn't sure why.
Alesso's machinery hummed and squeaked in response, he couldn't help but show his feelings.
Daniel noticed. He turned around in his chair. "Oh, do you like the fairy type? I didn't mean to offend."
Alesso stood unmoving, thinking before he spoke. "My apologies sir."
Daniel eyed the Automata carefully, suddenly a lot less afraid of the brass behemoth. "Some of my workers talk of you lot, the vintage Automata, the ones with some character to them. You must be old."
Alesso looked at Daniel tranquilly. "200 years, Master Vecellio. I have seen this city rise and fall."
"I bet El Gris looked a lot different back then."
Alesso sighed and closed his eyes. "It wasn't any cleaner sir. But you wouldn't find one Fae there in those times."
Daniel looks incredulously at Alesso, the Automata was starting to blur in his vision.
Alesso smiled and looked down at the ignorant stranger that he was tasked to deal with. "The Fae were among us, Master Vecellio. They used their magic freely. The Fae Slums didn't exist then."
Daniel struggled to maintain focus. He couldn't feel he legs. His head fell back as he gazed up at the gentle giant one last time. "Whaaat huppenduh?", he slurred.
Alesso stood in is aging metal body and sighed, chest creaking as he exhaled. He picked up Daniel's limp body with one hand. He was getting too old to do Signorino's dirty work any more.
The sensation felt odd to him. For so long he had been numb to his emotions. El Gris does that to you. 90 hour weeks does that to you. Castigating workers who fall behind quota does that to you. Daniel had been overseeing labor in El Gris for a long time. Too long. A life of darkness, grit, and cruelty had become the norm. He even had a name there. Workers called him "Il Lupo", the wolf.
Which is why it felt odd to Daniel Vecellio to be nervously picking at the dirt under his fingernails, softly kicking gravel around in a ratty black suit, standing at the front door of the immaculate The Signorino Estate, home of one the most powerful families in Madrenice. Birds chirped in the shade trees behind him, it had been awhile since he heard birds.
It had also been ages since he'd been off the dreadful island and into the city. These "business trips" were not of his choosing. They were status reports to the boss. A chance for the big man in charge to hear good news from his underlings. Felipe Signorino controlled most of the industry in El Gris, and was famously autocratic is the way he ran his business.
But Daniel didn't have good news. The foundry had been under production for 4 weeks. Mistakes were being made, orders being missed. His workers were dropping like flies, dead.
Daniel looked up the shimmering white marble pillars of the estate in exasperation, squinting as the midday sun reflected off them. His gaze fell down to the giant mahogany door he had knocked on moments ago, his impatience grew.
Daniel heard the metallic clanking before he heard the heavy footsteps emanate from behind the door. Daniel could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. The giant wooden slab swang open and revealed a towering sculpture of polished brass. A clockwork Automata.
In a deep echoing voice, it spoke. "Master Vecellio, welcome to the Signorino Estate. My name is Alesso. Please come in."
Daniel stepped inside, feet landing on thick red carpet. Daniel couldn't stop himself from surveying the luxury he had just entered. Huge tapestries hung off granite walls that moved gently in the breeze of the open windows. Lavish furniture arranged itself in elegant composition.
"I must apologize, Master Vecellio, Master Signorino will be running late to his arrangement with you," Alesso spoke calmly as Daniel's eyes darted around the room. Alesso was a gorgeous display of early Automata innovation, hundreds of brass plates clicked together softly as he closed the huge door behind Daniel. A brown leather vest hung from his stout metal chest.
Daniel's jerked eyes up to Alesso." Running late?" he said, voice shaking ever so slightly.
Alesso nodded and smiled. "Yes sir, paying a visit to the crane operators down at the seaport, evidently they haven't been pulling their weight lately."
Daniel let out a nervous laugh.
Alesso gestured an intricate clockwork hand towards a flight of white marble stairs down the hall. "You may wait for him in his study."
Daniel followed the Automata up the steps, he couldn't decide who he was more worried about, Signorino or this hulking clockwork individual.
Metallic squeals from Alesso mechanics echoed off cold stone walls.
Alesso looked back, "You'll have to excuse me, sir, I seem to be showing my age."
Alesso guided Daniel into the study, books lined the walls, catching rays of light from the long curtains behind a great oak desk. Daniel carefully lowered himself into one of the armchairs in front of the desk.
"Tea while you wait, Master Vecellio?" Alesso stood by the door.
"Oh. Sure." Daniel said offhandedly. The nerves were coming back.
Alesso returned shortly with an intricate baroque teapot. As he towered over the armchair, Daniel noticed the detailed engravings that covered Alesso's shimmering brass plating.
"Appreciate it. This ain't the magic shit right?" Daniel smirked at his own joke, still sipping the tea cautiously.
"If you're referring to the Herbal Tea of the Fae, no sir. Just rosebuds."
"Ah, well good. See a lot of that kind back in the factory trying to sneak in that magic tea to stay sharp between the ears. Like it'll save them."
Alesso smiled calmly. "It has to be known to do many great things, sir."
"Doesn't seem to help them work themselves to death. Dropping like flies on the factory floor lately. Boss won't stop upping quotas." Daniel said to no-one in particular. He was feeling suddenly happier, although he wasn't sure why.
Alesso's machinery hummed and squeaked in response, he couldn't help but show his feelings.
Daniel noticed. He turned around in his chair. "Oh, do you like the fairy type? I didn't mean to offend."
Alesso stood unmoving, thinking before he spoke. "My apologies sir."
Daniel eyed the Automata carefully, suddenly a lot less afraid of the brass behemoth. "Some of my workers talk of you lot, the vintage Automata, the ones with some character to them. You must be old."
Alesso looked at Daniel tranquilly. "200 years, Master Vecellio. I have seen this city rise and fall."
"I bet El Gris looked a lot different back then."
Alesso sighed and closed his eyes. "It wasn't any cleaner sir. But you wouldn't find one Fae there in those times."
Daniel looks incredulously at Alesso, the Automata was starting to blur in his vision.
Alesso smiled and looked down at the ignorant stranger that he was tasked to deal with. "The Fae were among us, Master Vecellio. They used their magic freely. The Fae Slums didn't exist then."
Daniel struggled to maintain focus. He couldn't feel he legs. His head fell back as he gazed up at the gentle giant one last time. "Whaaat huppenduh?", he slurred.
Alesso stood in is aging metal body and sighed, chest creaking as he exhaled. He picked up Daniel's limp body with one hand. He was getting too old to do Signorino's dirty work any more.
"Humans don't like what they don't understand"